Inspired by the Alliance of American Football’s rulebook, the Denver Broncos have proposed a rule change to the NFL.
Denver would like to “amend Rule 6, Section 1, Article 1 to provide an alternative to the onside kick that would allow a team who is trailing in the game an opportunity to maintain possession of the ball after scoring,” the league announced Friday.
The Broncos have suggested a 4th-and-15 scenario from the attempting team’s own 35-yard line, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. If successful, the offense would keep the ball. If the attempt failed, the defense would take over.
Denver’s proposed rule change could only be used one time per team per game and would only be allowed in the fourth quarter. In the AAF, teams can attempt a 4th-and-12 from their own 28-yard line if they are trailing by 17+ points or if they are trailing with five minutes or less remaining in the game.
NFL teams were successful on just 4-of-52 onside kick attempts last year after the NFL changed kickoff rules and no longer allowed players to get a running start before the kick. With the onside kick now nearly impossible to convert, the Broncos would like to provide an alternative.
